The federal government has denied the claim by Niger Republic’s military leader, General Abdourahamane Tchiani, that Nigeria colluded with France to destabilise his country.
General Abdourahamane Tiani, Niger Republic Head of State, had accused France of planning to establish a terrorist operational center in Gaba, a forested area in Sokoto State.
Gen. Tiani further alleged that the federal government is aware of these intentions and is complicit in France’s destabilisation efforts in West Africa.
The Niger military leader further alleged that France is also purportedly providing financial backing to Nigeria to set up a military base in Borno State, under the guise of combating terrorism, with the ulterior motive of destabilising Niger and neighboring countries.
However, in a statement issued on Thursday by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, the federal government described Gen. Tchiani’s accusations as unfounded and a diversionary tactic aimed at covering his administration’s failures.
“These claims exist solely in the realm of imagination. Nigeria has never engaged in any alliance, overt or covert, with France or any other country to destabilise Niger Republic,” the statement read.
The statement emphasised that President Bola Tinubu, in his capacity as the chairman of ECOWAS, has maintained an open-door policy towards re-engaging Niger despite the military coup that disrupted democratic governance in the country.
“Nigeria remains committed to fostering peace, harmony, and maintaining its historic diplomatic ties with Niger,” the statement added.
The federal government further highlighted the active role of Nigeria’s military in curbing terrorism within West Africa through collaborations with the Multinational Joint Task Force.
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It dismissed as absurd suggestions that Nigeria would conspire to undermine the peace and security of its neighbour.
The statement specifically denied allegations that Nigeria had ceded parts of its territory to foreign powers or established terrorist bases in Sokoto State in collaboration with France.
“The claims about the establishment of a so-called Lakurawa terrorist headquarters in Sokoto State are baseless. Nigeria has been a regional leader in combating terrorism, dedicating significant resources and lives to ensure stability in the Lake Chad Basin and beyond,” the statement stated.
It cited recent military operations, including ‘Operation Forest Sanity III’, which specifically targeted the Lakurawa threat, as evidence of Nigeria’s commitment to regional security.
The government also debunked accusations that Nigeria was sabotaging Niger’s pipelines and agriculture, pointing out Nigeria’s active role in supporting Niger’s economic development through initiatives such as the trans-Saharan gas pipeline and the Kano-Maradi railway project.
“It is illogical to suggest that Nigeria would undermine projects it has actively promoted,” the statement noted.
The federal government urged the public to disregard Gen. Tchiani’s allegations, challenging him to provide credible evidence to support his claims.
“Any attempt to blackmail Nigeria over ECOWAS’s principled stance against the unconstitutional seizure of power in Niger is disingenuous and doomed to fail,” Idris said.